Keep your connections open and you may find the job opening for you. (NAPS)

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re just starting your working life,
looking for a new job or considering an entirely different career, useful
connections and helpful tools are at your fingertips.

For example, there are more than 10 million job listings on LinkedIn.

Helpful Hints

Nearly all professionals at the most sought-after companies found their
way in through their professional networks.

Here are five suggestions to help you find your way in.

1. Improve your LinkedIn profile.
With more than 20 million professionals including recruiters, hiring managers
and decision makers using LinkedIn search every week, making simple
improvements to your profile can make a big difference.

Use the profile completion meter to see personalized recommendations on
which profile sections you should add to increase your chances of showing up
when a recruiter does a search. And take the time to share more on who you
are. For starters, make sure to add key skills you’ve acquired, such as
project management, teamwork and communication. Hint: You’re more
likely to find your way in to opportunities if you list more than five
skills. Also, don’t forget to add a photo. This will help your
connections recognize you and it helps boost your visibility with employers,
too. LinkedIn members with a profile photo get up to 21 times more profile
views and nine times more connection requests than those without.

2. Search smart. Job search
filters let you drill down into the aspects of a particular role that matter
to you such as location, company, experience level, industry, and job
function. Set alerts for the companies and jobs you’re interested in
and update your career interests with what you’re seeking. You’ll
get daily personalized job recommendations, some of which you can apply to
straight from your phone. You can also search jobs where you have
connections, and message them if you want to know more or if you want to ask
for a referral.

3. Signal that you’re open to
new opportunities by turning on Open
Candidates in your career interests, which are found on the LinkedIn jobs page and on your profile
page. This lets you privately signal to recruiters that you’re open to
new opportunities. It also increases your chances of showing up in searches
by recruiters.

4. Check your connections.
Seventy percent of people get hired at a company where they have a personal
connection. Your connections or mutual connections can be key to finding your
next job. If you need a conversation starter, check for career milestones
such as a job change, connections in common and similar insights to break the
ice. Now is the time to message your network and catch up. You never know who
will help you find your way in.

5. Don’t bury the lead.
When you reach out to a connection in your professional network, Adam
Neumann, co-founder and CEO of WeWork, recommends not overlooking the
importance of the subject line. A few catchy words that hint toward the
conversation can spark a great relationship and get the person on the other
end immediately engaged.